The Now Now
by Gorillaz
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 228 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 194 out of 228
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 228
  3. Negative: 13 out of 228
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  1. DeluxeDoggo
    Jun 29, 2018
    6
    It sounds like a somewhat uninspired, dreamy synth-pop mishmash with Damons lifeless vocals ontop.
    Half of the album is great but inbetween you have these, in my opinion, absolutely forgettable tracks like Kansas, Magic City, Tranz, Idaho, and One Percent that I just end up skipping.
    Nontheless, tracks like Sorcererz, Humility, Hollywood, Fire Flies, Lake Zurich and to some extend Souk    It sounds like a somewhat uninspired, dreamy synth-pop mishmash with Damons lifeless vocals ontop.
    Half of the album is great but inbetween you have these, in my opinion, absolutely forgettable tracks like Kansas, Magic City, Tranz, Idaho, and One Percent that I just end up skipping.
    Nontheless, tracks like Sorcererz, Humility, Hollywood, Fire Flies, Lake Zurich and to some extend Souk Eye are certainly worth giving a listen to.
    Overall however this is the weakest Gorillaz album in my collection.    … Expand
  2. TimW001
    Jun 29, 2018
    5
    It's a fun summer bop album with bits of pop, and dance. But aside from a few nice songs the entire thing is forgettable. Nothing bold or daring. Feels like a lot of generic keyboard music.
  3. Doof
    Jul 12, 2018
    5
    Any song writer operating as long as Albarn is doing amazingly well if they're still writing songs of the calibre of their early work...and unfortunately Damon has just run out of great tunes. It happens to the best of 'em. Middle of the road, dull.
  4. aukalender
    Aug 6, 2019
    5
    I don't know if it's because of the standards I expect from a Gorillaz album, but this really doesn't do it for me. Except for the three intro songs Humility/Tranz/Hollywood, there isn't much else here that I enjoy, and I really tried enjoying this album. I had felt disappointed in the first listen, and I said, well I felt that in other albums and liked it on following listens, but the NowI don't know if it's because of the standards I expect from a Gorillaz album, but this really doesn't do it for me. Except for the three intro songs Humility/Tranz/Hollywood, there isn't much else here that I enjoy, and I really tried enjoying this album. I had felt disappointed in the first listen, and I said, well I felt that in other albums and liked it on following listens, but the Now Now is just bland, sad-ish songs without much fuel. It's just that - end of career blues, nostalgia or sadness otherwise is no substitution for inspiration and creativity, as this album is no substitution for Plastic Beach or Demon Days. It's not even on the Humanz level as a fun or interesting listen - it's just bland.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Most Discussed Album of 2018
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Under The Radar
    Jul 16, 2018
    65
    Even if The Now Now comes across as a solo effort from Albarn, it is still a far improvement on the bloated and playlist-y nature of Humanz which masked everything that is interesting about Gorillaz in its Jumbotron collaborators. Albarn is at his most interesting when he is in the spotlight.
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  2. Boston Globe
    Jul 5, 2018
    60
    How much Gorillaz fans enjoy The Now Now will depend on why they became fans in the first place. Anyone captivated by Hewlett’s world-building will probably feel a little let down, as will those who fell for their eclectic, big-tent approach to pop. That leaves the Damon Albarn diehards.
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  3. Sputnikmusic
    Jul 5, 2018
    82
    The Now Now feels shockingly complete.
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